plate no. 8348
Innocence
Anton Raphael Mengs, 1754
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone blending, as well as rendering soft textures like fabric and fur.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic oval composition and the placement of the figure and lamb.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of muted yellow-green.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones of the figure, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 04
Rough in the drapery with light blue and white, focusing on the folds.
- step 05
Begin defining the features of the face, using subtle color variations for highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Paint the lamb, starting with the overall shape and then adding details like the eyes and wool texture.
- step 07
Add the flower crown, using small brushes for detail.
- step 08
Refine the details and blend the colors for a smooth, realistic finish.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · alizarin crimson
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use blue and white for the drapery, and mix greens from blue and yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·rendering fur
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Inaccurate proportions of the figure and lamb.
- →Failing to capture the soft, delicate textures.
- →Ignoring subtle color variations in the shadows.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A smooth canvas surface will aid in blending.
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